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News & Blog

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May 29, 2023

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Houston Monarch Story arrives at the Arboretum

Houston Arboretum & Nature Center is excited to announce the opening of the Houston Monarch Story, an interactive art installation celebrating Monarch butterflies and their vital habitat.

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A Beginner’s Guide to Composting

If you’d like to do your part for the planet and begin composting, here are some simple steps to get you started. 

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Board Spotlight: Dr. Cullen Geiselman Muse

As her Board service draws to a close, it is with deep gratitude that we acknowledge the unparalleled leadership of Dr. Cullen Geiselman Muse.

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Inside a Prescribed Fire

Prescribed fire is vital for ecosystem health and community safety. Find out what is it like to be on the ground for one.

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The Great Owl Rescue

On a cool February morning, a visitor spotted three white puffballs. They were Great Horned Owl chicks, and they were in trouble!

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Experiencing Fall Migration

Happy Fall Migration! It may have just started to feel like autumn, but for birds, the subtle change in daylight hours at the end of August was enough to trigger their urge to travel.

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The Dog Days of Summer

We’re entering the Dog Days of Summer in a much more literal way this year – with multiple coyote and fox sightings!

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Birding as Citizen Science

The Global Big Day is a challenge to bird watchers everywhere: see as many bird species as possible in 24 hours. Will you join the challenge?

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Earth Month Wrap-up

Thank you all for joining us during Earth Month! Just because April is almost over doesn’t mean that you have to stop helping the Earth. There are tons of great environmentally-friendly things for you to do all year.

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Earth Week

Get ready to go outside (even if it’s just in your backyard) and celebrate nature with us this week! In honor of the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, we’re getting ready for two fabulous events – a virtual Earth Day celebration and the City Nature Challenge!

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What Nature Means to You

Nature isn’t just a place to find animals and plants. Nature is relaxing, refreshing, comforting, and inspiring. Do you capture nature’s beauty with a camera or sketchbook? Do you jot down poems or creative writing in a nature journal? Use your art to show us how us how important nature is to you!

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The Art of Recycling

Reducing, reusing, and recycling are some of the most important things we can do to help the earth, but they can also be really fun!

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Get Social With Us!

#HoustonArboretum

Swamp rabbits (Sylvilagus aquaticus) are one of th Swamp rabbits (Sylvilagus aquaticus) are one of the coolest animals at the Arboretum – literally. Rabbits have thick fur and are unable to effectively sweat or pant to cool down when the heat is on, but they have a secret weapon – radiator ears! Their large ears are full of blood vessels which act as a natural radiator, releasing heat and sending cooler blood back through the body. They also survive the warmer temperatures by staying in shaded areas, laying in cool damp vegetation, and venturing out during the cooler evening hours.

📸 & observation by Naturalist III, Patti Bonnin
📣 Weekday Adult Volunteer Applications now open 📣 Weekday Adult Volunteer Applications now open! 📣

Volunteers are the backbone of the Arboretum and none of our amazing educational programming and wonderful natural spaces would be possible without their help and dedication. From trail and garden maintenance to supporting educational programs and engaging visitors, volunteers further the mission of the Arboretum every single day. 

If you are 16 or older and have been looking for a way to give back and learn more about the natural world, apply today to become an Arboretum Volunteer!

Learn more & apply at https://houstonarboretum.org/volunteer/adult-volunteers/
Our resident Red-bellied Woodpeckers have raised n Our resident Red-bellied Woodpeckers have raised not one, but TWO broods of babies this summer! That’s a huge amount of work and a great indication of the Arboretum’s habitat quality. The woodpeckers have access to safe nesting trees and plenty of insects and small critters for food. We’ve seen them bring a variety of treats to the nest, from beetles to grasshoppers and even the occasional lizard. #BeakOfTheWeek #WildlifeWednesday 

📸 Rosemary Brooks
Wishing everyone a happy and safe Independence Day Wishing everyone a happy and safe Independence Day! If you’re not a fan of fireworks ( we’re solidly team flowers instead of fireworks over here), stop by to enjoy some stunning summer blooms like this American Basketflower. Other than looking lovely, here are some of the other reasons we’re team flowers!

✅ Quiet
✅ Visible for more than a few seconds
✅ On display day and night 
✅ Good for the environment 
✅ Won’t scare wildlife…or your fur baby 

The Nature Center building is closed today, July 4, for the holiday, however the trails,  Nature Playscape, and outdoor restrooms remain open for your comfort and enjoyment. 

📸 Nova Morales
The munias are multiplying! Scaly-breasted Munias The munias are multiplying! Scaly-breasted Munias – also called Spice Finches – are small birds originally from Southeast Asia. Popular pets, they’ve escaped from captivity to form feral populations in Houston. While they were very rare at the Arboretum before 2020, in the last few years their population has increased. We now see a flock of about 30 munias every morning in front of the Nature Center building. Keep an eye out for them as you pass through the wetland garden on your way to the front door! #BeakOfTheWeek #WildlifeWednesday

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